Some notes about Kovalev

My young friend HOCKEY3097 from nhl.com community today asked me "Do you like Kovalev? I don't like Kovalev but my brother does."

Look, the answer is 'yes' and 'no'. I remember this player from Russia since 1992 when he was almost your age. He was amazing but had bad discipline. Like now a day people come to Washington to see Ovechkin, fans came to watch Moscow Dynamo to see this 16 year-old kid. I remember also Gretzky after playing with Kovalev in NYR said that Kovalev is the most talented player he has ever seen (and Grez, by the way, played with Coffey, Messier, Robitaile, Hull, Leetch and many many others great players)
The problem is his attitude to hockey. He loves hockey, no question about, but he also likes flying, playing saxophone, having fun with friends etc...Some days he is concentrated on the game and he is the best by far, other day - not so. He is probably the most gifted Russian player ever hit the NHL, but his impact - maybe 20% overall from his abilities. My favorite combination of player - skills + hard permanent work + team player (lets say Yzerman)

Russian invasion!

Russian invasion! This year again both Maurice Richard and Art Ross Trophies will be showcased in the middle of the Red Square in Moscow. Thanks to Russian superstars Alex ‘the Great’ Ovechkin and Gino Malkin. With 56 goals scored Capitals Ovechkin has this trophy taken home for the second consecutive year. The gap between him and the second sniper Flyers Carter is 10 (ten!) goals. That’s amazing in my opinion. Eugene Malkin wins the Art Ross for first time with 113 points, but he was second last year having only one skater passed him. Who? You right – Alex Ovechkin who came second with 3 point deficit this season. Let me guess, this summer NHL award will show the same picture as last one did. The Russian embassy will send their guards to help Russian guys to bring home most of the trophies. I hope you haven’t forgotten such names as Nabokov, Datsyuk, Kovalchuk and Slava Kozlov. Thanks God, it looks like we have Calder Trophy staying home this year. So, congratulations to Alex and Gino and... best regards to Don Cherry.

Snapshot from Detroit vs. Chicago game.

After two periods Blackhawks lead 2:0. Nikolai Khabibulin's exellent goaltending provides this two goal advantage to Chicago who faces Calgary at first round of playoffs starting next week. My photo shows Chris Osgood stops Chicago attack during the second period of the game

Today's trivia for my hockey experts

Who roared to NHL stardom as "the Golden Jet"?

Choose Your Answer:

A: Bobby Orr,
B: Wayne Gretzky,
C: Gordie Howe,
D: Bobby Hull

So, expert, have you got it right?

For more trivia visit "Hockey - the Question Is..."

Congratulations, guys!

I would like to congratulate Ian Laperrier (Colorado), Roberto Luongo (Vancouver), Niklas Hjalmarsson (Chicago) and Zac Parise (Nye Jersey)

Colorado’s Ian Laperriere skated in his 1,000th NHL game on Saturday, an accomplishment he'll always cherish. The gritty forward made his debut on March 3, 1994, while with the St. Louis Blues. He has played for four teams, and spent the last four seasons with the Avalanche. "It is meaningful," he said. "If I look back at my career, it's my effort that I'm proudest of ... I worked hard so I could play into my 30s, and I'm still playing hard at 35."

Roberto Luongo posted his second straight shutout, stopping 22 shots. Luongo, who blanked Los Angeles on Thursday, extended the franchise record with his ninth shutout this season. He has 47 in the NHL, tying him with San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov for fourth among active players. New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur is first with 101.

Chicago Niklas Hjalmarsson netted his first NHL goal

Zac Parise's goal gave him 58 points at home this season, tying the franchise record set by Patrik Elias in 2000-01.
I wish you all the best, guys, and good luck - Ian Laperrier in the next season and for rest of the guys – in playoffs.

Nikale Photos (Ian Laperrier and Roberto Luongo,left)

Sharks win first Presidents' Trophy

Saturday, 04.11.2009 / 7:25 PM / NHL Insider / By NHL.com Staff
The San Jose Sharks will enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the top seed after clinching the first Presidents' Trophy in franchise history on Saturday.San Jose was assured of finishing the season with the NHL's best record after the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins lost 6-1 at Buffalo. The Sharks (53-18-11) finished their season with 117 points after a 4-3 loss at Los Angeles; the Bruins have 114 points with a road game against the New York Islanders on Sunday. The Sharks will have the home-ice advantage for as far as they go in the playoffs -- an important consideration, considering that they were a League-best 32-5-4 at home.The 117 points are the most for the Sharks since they entered the NHL in 1991. Their 53 victories are also a franchise record.

Wings ink Franzen to 11-year deal

Saturday, 04.11.2009 / 1:30 PM / nhl.com - News
Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland announced today that the club has signed forward Johan Franzen to an eleven-year contract. In keeping with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. The eleven-year pact represents the second longest deal in club history, just behind the twelve-year contract signed by teammate Henrik Zetterberg in January.

“We are thrilled that Johan will remain a member of the Detroit Red Wings” said Holland. “His production over the past year and a half, both regular season and playoffs, has been remarkable and we feel, at 29 years old, that he is just now entering the prime of his career. We look forward to having him as a part of our core unit in Detroit moving forward.”

Franzen was originally a third round draft pick (97th overall) of the Red Wings in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He is currently in his fourth season in the National Hockey League. In 69 games played this season, Franzen has already set career highs in goals (34), assists (25) and points (59). He burst into the NHL spotlight last March scoring 14 goals and adding four assists for 18 points in just 13 games. Six of Franzen’s 14 goals were game-winning goals, eclipsing the franchise record of five in one month held by Gordie Howe and Zetterberg. ‘Mule’ would finish the 2007-08 regular season by scoring 15 goals over the final 16 games.

Franzen’s incredible run continued into the 2008 playoffs. He found the back of the net 13 times in just 16 postseason games. Along the way, he set or tied numerous franchise playoff records including most goals in one playoff year (13, with Zetterberg), most goals in one playoff series (9), most game-winning goals in one playoff year (5), longest playoff goal streak (5 games) and most three-goal games in one playoff series (2).